T-34-85 tanks of the Second Tank Brigade on their way to Trieste, May 1945. Besides the T-34-85 tanks supplied to the Second Tank Brigade, the Partisans managed to salvage a few abandoned Soviet T-34-85 tanks left in Yugoslavia. The Second Tank Brigade also participated in the fighting for Slavonia and during the liberation of Zagreb. After a military parade held in Belgrade on 27th March, it was sent to the Syrmian Front (21st October 1944 – 12th April 1945), where this Brigade participated in the heavy fight that lasted until the final collapse of the German forces there. The Unit arrived in Topčider (Serbia) on 26th March. As far as equipment is concerned, this brigade was equipped with 65 T-34/85 tanks and 3 BA-64 armored cars. The Brigade was organized according to the Red Army model of the Tank Brigade.
This unit would be known as the Second Tank Brigade and was formed on 8th March 1945. On the order of Stalin, a tank brigade operated by Partisan crews trained in the Soviet Union was formed. Source: The Yugoslav Partisans got their chance to operate the newer T-34-85 tanks in late 1944. A Soviet T-34-85 during the liberation of Belgrade. After their mission was completed, the 3rd Ukraine Front began moving toward Hungary to continue fighting the remaining Axis forces there. These supported the Yugoslav Partisans, helping them liberate many towns in Serbia, including the capital, Belgrade. Source: The improved T-34-85 version was used in Yugoslavia for the first time by the advancing Soviet 3rd Ukraine Front.
While not clear, at least 5 or 6 T-34-76s were captured by the Partisans and put to use. These remained in use after the war and one has even been preserved to this day. Out of 10 German T-34-76s, the Partisans managed to capture between 5 or 6 before and at the end of the war. These were used to protect Trieste and saw service against the Yugoslav Partisans. The first T-34-76 tanks that appeared in Yugoslavia were operated by the German SS Polizei Regiment 10 (English: 10th SS Police Regiment), which had 10 such vehicles in late 1944. While, later, more advanced tank designs would be acquired, the T-34-85 would remain in use up to 2000. This included the T-34-85 tanks that formed the Second Tank Brigade.
Besides them, the JNA operated a number of vehicles given to them by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. Most had been captured by the enemy during the war. Initially, it was equipped with armored vehicles of various origins.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-2000)Īfter the Second World War, the Jugoslovenska Armija (JA, English: Yugoslav Army), better known as the Jugoslovenska Narodna Atmiija (JNA, English: Yugoslav People’s Army), was created.
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